- (YellowTimes.org) -- Christmas had passed. The end of
the hurly-burly season found me resting comfortably on my sofa. The warm
glow of burning logs in the fireplace soon lulled me to sleep. When I awoke,
I recalled my dream.
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- I found myself in the cozy den of the Crawford White
House. Sitting across from the President, who was comfortably relaxing
in an easy chair, the First Lady, a most charming person, brought us hot
chocolate.
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- The President: "John, what brought you here?"
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- John: "Mr. President, what brought me here is that
during the wonderful season we just passed and with great anticipation
of America's victory over the world-wide network of terrorists, I recall
that during your campaign you avowed that Jesus was your philosopher. Just
what exactly did you mean by that?"
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- PB: "John, there are certain sayings of our Lord
that mark the direction in which this presidency is moving. For instance,
in Matthew 26:11 it is written, 'For you always have the poor with you.'
I make certain that this admonition of our Lord will be one of the hallmarks
while I sit in the Oval Office.
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- "Some of my adversaries have criticized me because
I support Corporate America as its executives move jobs to overseas locations.
I have also been called on the carpet because I objected to the extension
of unemployment benefits. You can rest assured, John, that I have the welfare
of the people at heart. But when it comes to making a choice between my
own personal preferences and the injunction of the Scripture, surely you
must agree that the commands of the Holy Scripture take precedence over
my personal feelings. The Word of God clearly states that we must have
the poor with us always. Some people just don't seem to understand that."
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- JB: "Oh, I see, Mr. President. Are there any other
guidelines coming from the Holy Book?"
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- PB: "Most certainly there are. Surely, as a former
minister you must know that both Matthew 24:6 and Mark 13:7 make this identical
statement. 'And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you
are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet.' Certainly,
it grieves me to send our young men and women into combat. Yet, God's word
is supreme. I am sure that the brave heroes who sacrifice their lives in
compliance with the Holy Word will find eternal happiness and bliss in
the Heavenly Kingdom."
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- JB: "Mr. President, is not that the same rationale
that the Islamic militants advance? Does the Quran not promise eternal
life and bliss to those who die while they kill infidels? Does it not seem
strange that both Christians and Muslims promise the same rewards for killing
each other?"
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- PB: "Well, of course, you realize, John, that we
are not fighting the Muslims. We are fighting terrorism."
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- JB: "Of course, Mr. President. However that does
not negate the promise of eternal life made by both religions."
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- PB: " Well, you must take into account that the
Bible is much older than the Quran -- or whatever. I know that we are fulfilling
God's will."
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- JB: "Very well, Mr. President. Are there any other
Biblical injunctions to which you subscribe as part of your philosophy?"
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- PB: "Of course. You see in Matthew 5:17 Jesus said,
'Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; for
I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.' In the very first chapter of
Genesis, God laid down two laws. In verse 28 the Lord said, 'Be fruitful
and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it.' So God's law tells us
first of all to be prolific, propagate, propagate, propagate, and secondly
to subdue the earth.
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- "Those misguided people who want birth controls
and abortions just haven't read the Bible. We are not to place any impediment,
God says, on a male sperm from reaching the female ovum. We are to multiply,
multiply, multiply.
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- "Furthermore, John, I get so upset with these misguided,
Biblically-illiterate folks who want to prevent us from drilling in Alaska
or who raise objections because corporate giants spew a few pollutants
into the atmosphere. Does not the Bible say clearly and unequivocally that
we are to subdue the earth? God gave it to Adam and his offspring to do
with it as they see fit. After all, it is our productivity that has made
America a nation under God."
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- JB: "I see, Mr. President. However, aren't there
also some passages in the Bible that indicate a different course of action?"
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- PB: "What are you talking about? I made my case
based on the simple dictates given to us by God."
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- JB: "Yes, sir. May I be so bold as to ask you a
question, sir?"
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- PB: "Well, I don't know. However, it is the season
of joy·go ahead, I am filled with the spirit of Christmas. "
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- JB: "Mr. President, Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25, and
Luke 18:25 all say the very same in their Gospels, '·it is easier
for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich
to enter the kingdom of God.' Authorities tell us that most likely Jesus
referred to a very small gate in the wall surrounding Jerusalem that would
not accommodate the passage of a camel. Jesus told his listeners that the
chance of a rich man·"
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- PB: "John, John, John, surely you know that there
were some simple-minded folks around in those days who had socialistic
leanings. They probably snuck that sentence into the manuscripts and it
just hasn't been taken out. I am certain that neither Matthew nor Mark
nor Luke had any idea that some scribbler inserted that phrase into the
Scripture. Can you imagine our Lord saying anything negative about rich
folks? After all, they are the ones who create jobs, invent new products,
and keep the wheels of commerce turning. I am sure Jesus would never say
anything against the folks who built and are building his nation."
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- JB: "Mr. President, I respect your interpretation.
But what are we to make of the saying in Matthew 21:12, Mark 11:15 and
John 2:14,15? Each of these passages refers to the visit Jesus made to
the Temple when he overturned the seats of the money changers and the sellers
of doves? It seems that our philosopher had a real problem with businessmen
who took advantage of the common people. He really must have been pretty
angry with those merchants."
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- PB: "John, John, when was the last time you saw
money changers setting up tables in the streets of America or dealers selling
doves in the courtyard of any temples? You see, these events took place
almost 2,000 years ago and they just do not have any applicability today.
If there were money changers and dove merchants in market places and temples
in the United States, you can be certain that I would have them investigated
by the FBI. After all, we must be true to God's holy Word."
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- JB: "Mr. President, may I ask just one more question?"
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- PB: "Of course, just one more. Oh, Laura, would
you please turn on the AC? It's getting just a bit too warm with the burning
logs in the fireplace."
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- JB: "Again, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke
all quote Jesus as saying 'if any of you place a stumbling block before
one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you
if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned
in the depth of the sea.' Don't you think, Mr. President, that thousands
and thousands of children in our society without any health insurance is
putting a stumbling block before them?"
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- PB: "Laura, please get Dr. Brand's coat. He is leaving."
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- JB: "Good evening, sir, and have a Happy New Year!"
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- _____
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- John Brand is a Purple Heart, Combat Infantry veteran
of World War II. He received his Juris Doctor degree at Northwestern University
and a Master of Theology and a Doctor of Ministry at Southern Methodist
University. He served as a Methodist minister for 19 years, was Vice President,
Birkman & Associates, Industrial Psychologists, and concluded his career
as Director, Organizational and Human Resources, Warren-King Enterprises,
an independent oil and gas company. He is the author of <http://www.yellowtimes.org/gifts.php"Shaking
the Foundations."]
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- John Brand encourages your comments: <mailto:jbrand@YellowTimes.orgjbrand@YellowTimes.org
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